Anyone like traffic circles-roundabouts?

[plowhog]

If I am at the speed limit I am not going to move over so that you can speed. Honk your horn and flash your lights will result in nothing from me.

If you think you are driving the speed limit, you are probably not. Speedometers are set "fast" from the factory so when you have it set on 65 "indicated" you are probably only doing 62.

It's just courtesy to move right if there are cars wanting to pass, whether you are at the limit or not. I drive I-80 over Donner Summit frequently. There are always a few cars who drive the limit in the fast lane, and they snarl traffic for miles. A lot of drivers behind them get frustrated and do some dangerous things trying to get past the single vehicle responsible for the massive snarl. Some drivers "pace" a semi for 2, 3, 5 miles or more without budging forward or back. Maybe the drivers of those vehicles feel righteous, but they cause dangerous situations for everyone behind them. While they are pacing the semi, everyone else is tied up and the traffic just gets thicker and thicker which is not good.

btw, I-15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is one of the fastest average speed highways in the country. I once set my cruise control at 90mph, and ran for 20-30 miles at that speed. I passed two cars and was passed by nine. If you were driving the 65 or 70mph limit you would be an extreme hazard to others. For a stretch I ran it up to 100mph, held it there for a while, and I was still getting passed.

 

[grsthegreat]

If you think you are driving the speed limit, you are probably not. Speedometers are set "fast" from the factory so when you have it set on 65 "indicated" you are probably only doing 62.

It's just courtesy to move right if there are cars wanting to pass, whether you are at the limit or not. I drive I-80 over Donner Summit frequently. There are always a few cars who drive the limit in the fast lane, and they snarl traffic for miles. A lot of drivers behind them get frustrated and do some dangerous things trying to get past the single vehicle responsible for the massive snarl. Some drivers "pace" a semi for 2, 3, 5 miles or more without budging forward or back. Maybe the drivers of those vehicles feel righteous, but they cause dangerous situations for everyone behind them. While they are pacing the semi, everyone else is tied up and the traffic just gets thicker and thicker which is not good.

btw, I-15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is one of the fastest average speed highways in the country. I once set my cruise control at 90mph, and ran for 20-30 miles at that speed. I passed two cars and was passed by nine. If you were driving the 65 or 70mph limit you would be an extreme hazard to others. For a stretch I ran it up to 100mph, held it there for a while, and I was still getting passed.

i dont believe they are. ive checked mine against my garmin and phone gps. dead on. also the police have those radar units set up around town..they always say same as my speedometer. unless all units are in cahoots.

 

[ultrarunner]

Don't forget the effect when moving up or down in tire size...

 

[Gee Ray]

If you think you are driving the speed limit, you are probably not. Speedometers are set "fast" from the factory so when you have it set on 65 "indicated" you are probably only doing 62.

It's just courtesy to move right if there are cars wanting to pass, whether you are at the limit or not. I drive I-80 over Donner Summit frequently. There are always a few cars who drive the limit in the fast lane, and they snarl traffic for miles. A lot of drivers behind them get frustrated and do some dangerous things trying to get past the single vehicle responsible for the massive snarl. Some drivers "pace" a semi for 2, 3, 5 miles or more without budging forward or back. Maybe the drivers of those vehicles feel righteous, but they cause dangerous situations for everyone behind them. While they are pacing the semi, everyone else is tied up and the traffic just gets thicker and thicker which is not good.

btw, I-15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is one of the fastest average speed highways in the country. I once set my cruise control at 90mph, and ran for 20-30 miles at that speed. I passed two cars and was passed by nine. If you were driving the 65 or 70mph limit you would be an extreme hazard to others. For a stretch I ran it up to 100mph, held it there for a while, and I was still getting passed.

So if there are a bunch of people breaking the law then it is ok for you to do it also? I hope to God you never have to drag a body out of a tangled piece of metal that was once a car. Yes I have. It is all good until something goes wrong.

Try being one of the workers on a highway and the "I am better then the law" a$$holes speeds through the construction zone. It is frightening and dangerous.

Speed limits are set for a reason. And if by obeying the law I inconvenience you, tuff.

Should I only obey the laws that I think are right? When the speed limit is 20 mph in the school zone and some idiot runs it at 40 mph I should run 40 in the school zone too? And yes I have had to stop and hold a child that was on his way to school. He was run over by a speeding truck. And I watched people drive around him until I could block the road with my truck and trailer.

Did I tick off a bunch of people by blocking the road? Well, yes I did. And I do not regret making those people slow down and stop. The firetruck, the ambulance and the police blocked the intersection and took over the first aid.

With over 1,000,000 miles under my bumper I have seen some stupid stuff on the roads. And one of the most dangerous that I see everyday is the one that thinks he has the right to go as fast as they want.

 

[plowhog]

So if there are a bunch of people breaking the law then it is ok for you to do it also?

A significant issue of safety is reasonably matching the flow of traffic.

If the flow is predominantly above, at, or below the speed limit for a particular stretch, you are likely a safer driver by maintaining a similar speed. Just as you loath speeders, someone plugging up traffic causing tempers to flare in following vehicles can also be a contributor to accidents.

 

[lman]

A significant issue of safety is reasonably matching the flow of traffic.

If the flow is predominantly above, at, or below the speed limit for a particular stretch, you are likely a safer driver by maintaining a similar speed. Just as you loath speeders, someone plugging up traffic causing tempers to flare in following vehicles can also be a contributor to accidents.

Usually there is a right lane for slower traffic. Driving at the same speed as traffic in the other lane is what causes traffic jams.

 

[k0ua]

my speedometer matches the radar signs around here perfectly.

 

[plowhog]

my speedometer matches the radar signs around here perfectly.

Interesting to hear that from multiple members. I don't think I have ever had a vehicle whose odometer was not calibrated to show a faster speed than actual. I usually budget 3mph.

Curious-- have you ever compared it to a hand held gps?

 

[ning]

Some drivers "pace" a semi for 2, 3, 5 miles or more without budging forward or back

This one irks the heck out of me.
These people don't realize what danger they're in, either, considering how often tires seem to blow out on those things, or how often I see semis weaving in their lane. If I'm in a line of cars passing, I'll slow down as I approach the semi to let the guy in front of me get past it, and then I'll just pass it all at once so I'm not stuck behind traffic while sitting next to a semi.
And on a motorcycle this goes double!

 

[ultrarunner]

Recent trip indicated was consistently 3 mph slower than radar speed at 65 mph in Toyota.

I don't like looking in the rear view especially on an 800 mile leg so set the cruise at 68 and never pass anyone... well almost no one.